Room for energy storage growth

What drives energy storage growth?

Energy storage growth is generally driven by economics, incentives, and versatility. The third driver—versatility—is reflected in energy storage’s growing variety of roles across the electric grid (figure 1).

How can energy storage help the electric grid?

Three distinct yet interlinked dimensions can illustrate energy storage’s expanding role in the current and future electric grid—renewable energy integration, grid optimization, and electrification and decentralization support.

Will energy storage grow in 2024?

Allison Weis, Global Head of Energy Storage at Wood Mackenzie Another record-breaking year is expected for energy storage in the United States (US), with Wood Mackenzie forecasting 45% growth in 2024 after 100% growth from 2022 to 2023.

Why are annual storage installations growing faster than wind and solar?

Annual storage installations are growing faster than wind and solar as the sector races to keep up with the growing need to balance renewables and support grid resiliency. The storage market is also supported by falling module costs and IRA tax incentives.

Should energy storage be co-optimized?

Storage should be co-optimized with clean generation, transmission systems, and strategies to reward consumers for making their electricity use more flexible. Goals that aim for zero emissions are more complex and expensive than net-zero goals that use negative emissions technologies to achieve a reduction of 100%.

Can stationary energy storage improve grid reliability?

Although once considered the missing link for high levels of grid-tied renewable electricity, stationary energy storage is no longer seen as a barrier, but rather a real opportunity to identify the most cost-effective technologies for increasing grid reliability, resilience, and demand management.